seahorses

[jasonl]

i'm interested in setting up a seahose tank can anyone offer up some beginner advise and information
thanks

[ajx22]

i'm interested in setting up a seahose tank can anyone offer up some beginner advise and information
thanks

Just read some of the existing threads already in this section - as much of it is already here.

[jmunding]

Speak to Mr. Wilson about these special babes
If you have a question about them, he can answer
good luck
they are beautiful animals (fish) beings!

[Mugster]

Talk to Aaron, the Moderator of the Seahorse Forum. He'll be able to answer any questions you may have. He's our resident expert on Seahorses.







Kev :twitch:

[siklid]

i'm interested in setting up a seahose tank can anyone offer up some beginner advise and information
thanks

so your planing on getting the 90 up sooner for the seahorses ?

[jasonl]

so your planing on getting the 90 up sooner for the seahorses ?
nope i'm thinking of a 30 g tall

[vaporize]

Have you put any fish into your 33G tank since it's setup?

[jasonl]

my current setup has a perc and a purple firefish but i'm looking at a 30 g tall 18x18x20 i believe to setup brand new for some ponies i'm not in a rush i'm hoping to have it setup by christmas so i'm starting my research now
which seahorses are the easiest to keep?
i'm planning on a species only tank with some softies and leathers probably 175w mh for lighting and low flow

[steve w.]

Good thread.

I'm thinking about setting up a seahorse tank this summer.

Any info is appreciated.

[mark0933]

Ask your specific Q's, I have 11 horses and 3 pipehorses (3 breeds of horse, Fuscus, Kuda and Reidi)

As for the "which is easiest", depends what you want. Do you want to breed, or just have as pets (don't care about breeding)

I really like my Reidi, but the fry are so small they are virtually impossible to raise, my Fuscus had large fry, but are virtually impossible to find (I got extremely lucky as the LFS had them as Kuda)

Pipehorses are cool, but not for beginners.

So there's the start, post some more Q's - be more than happy to help.

Mark

[rayjay]

Talk to Aaron, the Moderator of the Seahorse Forum. He'll be able to answer any questions you may have. He's our resident expert on Seahorses.
Kev :twitch:
I don't think Aaron is available at this time.
I've been trying to get in touch with him for several months now, by e-mail and by phone......no luck.
Any one know where else I can get male H. Reidi's? I'm getting desperate for them to try and keep any more pairing of Reidi's with Kuda Males from happening.

[mark0933]

Ray, see if reefraft have any more (or are planning on getting some more)

Mark

[vaporize]

last saturday I was tehre at RR, they have TONS of reidi in their seahorse tank.

[jasonl]

i'm thinking about trying to raise the fry but i've got a long way to go first
i've raised all different types of FW fry but i'm still kinda new to SW
mark would you say reidi are easier to maintain as pets? or should i hold out for fuscus
also i am plannining a setup around seahorses so what should i keep in mind as far as tank size,filtration etc. which the intention for breeding in the future
thanks

[mark0933]

OK, for first horses, I'd go reidi (as pets), although if you can find erectus, I might say they were even a better bet with pets first, breeding as it progresses.

As for the tank, get as tall a tank as possible. As for filtration, I'd go with a good skimmer and a good amount of live rock (both in the tank and in the sump) and a DSB. Essentially they need the same requirements as a softie tank, and can handle some flow, just not the pounding ina reef tank.

Mark

PS - don't hold out for fuscus, you'll be waiting a VERY long time.

[jasonl]

the tank i had in mind was an oceanic 30 gallon 18x18x20 would a tank this size suffice as a seahorse display tank?
what soft corals could i have with ponies? and can i have leathers with them as well? how about a clean up crew is there any non ponies friendly critters i should be aware of ?

[mark0933]

an 18" high tank should be fine for display and possible breeding, mine are in 16" cubes and it works. As for corals, most softies should be OK (although the horse may irritate the softie by curling it's tail around the base) Leathers should be fine too, it's just stinging corals and acro's that are not good.

As for a cleanup crew, I'd go the all snail route as crabs will compete for food and pick on the horses. I would go for plenty of cerith and nassarius crabs to keep the bottom clean because horses are messy eaters. I'd also add some macro algae like halmedia, calerpa or any other, to give them more of a natural setting.

Mark

PS - I'd only put 2 large or 4 small horses in that tank but I'd go with some small open water fish with them (maybe a pair of chromis, or some other mid dwelling fish, but nothing too energetic) to add some mid level veiwing interest.

[jmunding]

I have a standard 25g that has been currently cycling with just LS as well as a 10g Nano tank, which of the two would be best used for a sea horse coral. I was thinking of using the 25G, adding, plants and tree that are compatible for them and plastic branchs,
I will not be adding the ponies until April, i am thinking about breeding at least once. I will be buying from RR or Seahorse.com in guelph. Unless you know of someone else?
any help would be appreciated.

[mark0933]

The 10 will be too small for the horses and depending on the dimensions of the 25, it might be too small too (definately too small for more than 2 small horses and not much else), and I don't know seahorse.com, but if you mean seanic (Aaron on here) he knows his horses, and you'll do fine.

As for your plan, the only thing you really need to keep on top of with horses is water quality. I cheat with mine as they are attached to the reef tank and sump system, so they get the low flow they need, but the added advantage of 300G of water with lots of live rock and a refugium. Horses are sloppy eaters, thus there is a fair bit of rotting food in the tank most of the time, leading to high nitrates.

My only other comment re seahorses is that they do require a fair amount of dedication (almost daily feeding required) and honestly I don't think beginners should purchase them without first having kept a tank for atleast 12 months, understanding feeding, protein skimmers, etc. Horses are not as common as clown fish, and need a lot more care, but are really a unique creature with presonality, so if you think you have the skill and conviction to keep up to their demands, go for it.

Mark

PS - if you do manage to breed them and raise any beyond 6 weeks old, share your secrets because that is my stumbling point so far. :bsmile: :bsmile:

[jmunding]

Thank you
Yes i was talking about Arrons forum.
I have read different articles concerning what type of fish can be kept with sea horses. I cant undrstand keeping them with Tangs, are tangs not agressive? Clowns and damsels seem an okay fish but i read that it is not a good idea.

If i put fish in with ponies, would Gobies be okay? How about Rock flower anemones, i have a couple in one of my tanks and find them to be beautiful,

[mark0933]

The anemones are a bad idea, they sting horses, and can capture them if they stray too close (horses are sometimes clumsy). As for fish, energetic fish are considered a no no. I myself would not put a damsel in with them, but would put a pair of bangii cardinals no problem. WRT the goby, it is a bottom fish, and therefore would compete with the horses for the mysis that they will pick off the bottom, so ??

Again, just my opinion.

Mark

[jasonl]

in regards to feeding i see most people find frozen mysis , what about live food like brine shrimp,i'm thinking a 55 gallon fuge and a couple of brine shrimp hatcheries is there anything else that would vary the ponies diet that would be benificial

[vaporize]

people feed frozen mysis because they have more nutrional value than brime shrimp

[jasonl]

can i enrich brine shrimp ? to add nutrional value and besides mysis and BS what else can i feed them?

[vaporize]

can i enrich brine shrimp ? to add nutrional value and besides mysis and BS what else can i feed them?

you can try enrich brimeshirmp with solocon type of food enricher but you better make sure your ponies are not deficent in one thing or the other int he long run.



how big is the tank nneded for seahorse to live in?


Depending on the sea horse species, some smaller ones such as dwarf, a pair can live happily in a 12G. Others such as erectus will require much bigger tank. A general size would be 10-20G.